January 2, 2020
Kitchen Appliance Arrangement
We want to make sure that your kitchen is 100% ready for use before we leave, and it wouldn’t be complete without appliances. As a part of our kitchen remodeling process at Bath Doctor, we install and arrange all of your kitchen appliances. When it comes to kitchen appliance installation, it’s crucial to plan the layout early in the design stage.
Below are a few recommendations from our kitchen remodeling experts to help you with kitchen appliance layout.
The Kitchen Triangle
The “kitchen triangle” is made up of the fridge, the stove, and the sink. As you move through your kitchen, you will spend the majority of your time moving between these areas. So, you want to make sure that the area is well-organized so that you can cook and entertain without missing a beat.
For the most part, you should avoid placing appliances directly in front of each other. Such placement may prevent both appliances from fully opening at the same time, such as in the case of a stove and a dishwasher. In addition to this issue, it will also be difficult for two people to work behind each other without getting in each other’s way.
Refrigerator Placement
When you are choosing a refrigerator, first consider the overall size of your kitchen. Refrigerators can be massive these days, and you want to make sure everything is in proportion. There are four basic models you should explore. All of them are great, and the selection is mostly a matter of personal preference:
- Side-by-side refrigerator and freezer
- Top-mount freezer
- Bottom door or drawer freezer
- Bottom drawer freezer with a French-door fridge
When it comes to choosing a spot for your fridge, make sure you have enough room for the doors to fully open without getting in the way. For example, placing a fridge behind a breakfast bar is a bad idea, because when someone is sitting at the bar, the fridge becomes blocked. It’s advisable to place a fridge on the outskirts of the kitchen, so that if someone has to grab a drink while you are cooking, they won’t be intruding into your work space.
Expert Tip: Plan for counter space next to the fridge. You want a close-by surface to place food as you take it out.
Sink and Dishwasher Placement
The sink is often the first item that gets secured in a kitchen layout, because it’s traditionally installed in front of a window. The idea is that it’s nice to be looking outside (versus staring at the wall) as you are doing the dishes. However, if you have a dishwasher, you won’t be spending that much time at the sink, and it doesn’t have to face the window. A sink can be located on an island to provide more counter space along the walls. Make sure the dishwasher is next to the sink and also close to the garbage can. You’ll be shifting a lot between these three items, often with something nasty on your hands.
Stove Placement
Modern-day homeowners have a variety of options when it comes to stove placement. You can have an all-in-one cooking range with an oven, or you can install a split cooktop and wall oven combo. The layout you choose will depend on how much you use each appliance, how much space you have in the kitchen, as well as your cooking preferences.
A traditional cooking range is neat and compact and works great in smaller kitchens. However, depending on your kitchen layout, a separate cooktop may work even better for you, offering extra cabinet storage where you need it. And instead of having just one oven included with your range, you can have two wall ovens that can be stacked. This makes it easier for several cooks to work on several meals at the same time.
Need help planning appliance placement in your new kitchen? Contact us today for professional kitchen design and remodeling services in Maryland.
